Ryun
A masculine Korean name meaning "leader" or "guide".
Name Census estimates that about 175 living Americans carry the first name Ryun. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ryun today is around 36 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ryun births was 1996 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ryun. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
175
~ 1 in 1,958,596 Americans
Peak year
1996
13 babies that year
Average age
36
years old
2013 SSA rank
#13,690
Tracked since 1972
Popularity
Ryun: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ryun from the 1970s through to the 2010s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 76 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ryun by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ryun during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ryun
The name Ryun is of Korean origin, deriving from the ancient Korean word "ryun," meaning "willow tree." This name has been associated with grace, flexibility, and resilience, much like the willow tree itself.
In Korea, the willow tree has held significant cultural and symbolic importance for centuries. It has been revered for its ability to bend without breaking, symbolizing strength and adaptability in the face of adversity. The name Ryun is believed to have been bestowed upon individuals in hopes of imbuing them with similar qualities.
The earliest recorded use of the name Ryun can be traced back to the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392 CE) in Korea. During this period, the name appears in various historical records and literature, often associated with notable scholars, artists, and members of the nobility.
One of the most famous historical figures to bear the name Ryun was Ryun Saeng (1491-1554), a renowned Korean scholar and philosopher during the Joseon Dynasty. He was celebrated for his contributions to Neo-Confucian thought and his influential writings on ethics and moral philosophy.
Another notable individual named Ryun was Ryun Jeong-hwan (1608-1672), a prominent Korean calligrapher and artist. His works are celebrated for their elegant brushwork and profound artistic expression, and many of his calligraphic pieces are preserved in museums and cultural institutions throughout Korea.
In the realm of literature, Ryun Jae-yun (1864-1948) was a distinguished Korean writer and poet during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is remembered for his poetic works that captured the essence of Korean culture and the struggles faced by the nation during the Japanese occupation.
Ryun Sang-wook (1923-2009) was a prominent South Korean politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of South Korea from 1988 to 1990. He played a pivotal role in the country's transition to democracy and the strengthening of its international relations.
More recently, Ryun Jae-joon (born 1981) is a successful South Korean actor and singer. He has gained widespread popularity for his performances in various television dramas and films, as well as his musical endeavors.
While the name Ryun has its roots in Korean culture and history, its meaning and symbolism have resonated across generations, transcending geographical boundaries and cultural barriers.
People
Ryun + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ryun as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ryun: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ryun?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 175 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ryun going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,958,596 US residents.
Is Ryun a common name?
We classify Ryun as "Very Rare". It ranks above 72.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 182 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ryun most popular?
The single biggest year for Ryun was 1996, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ryun is about 36 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ryun a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ryun in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.